Better Off Red by Rebekah Weatherspoon Read Free Book Online Page A

Anna-Jade’s skin. I wanted to be horrified. I wanted to puke, then grab Amy and run. I’d promised I wouldn’t let them hurt her, and hand slicing fell under the umbrella of pain. I was still paralyzed by what I was seeing.
    When Natasha lifted her head, Anna-Jade’s palm was clean and the cut was completely healed. Natasha brushed her cheek gently before leaning forward to kiss Anna-Jade on the lips. She pulled away and stroked her cheek one more time.
    Then Heather handed Natasha a slim black box. I couldn’t see what was inside until Anna-Jade bowed her head a little. Natasha
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    Better Off red
    fastened a delicate platinum chain around her neck. I knew there was a small teardrop ruby hanging just above her breasts.
    “You are safe here and we all will love you,” Natasha said before she looked to Heather and Layna. They took that as their cue to usher Anna-Jade up from her spot. The three of them shuffled behind Natasha and settled comfortably on the cushion. Anna-Jade was still crying. Heather wrapped her arms around her and let her sob quietly. I got the feeling they were tears of relief.
    The queen had our attention again as she looked off to my right.
    “Kate, Jordan, please make your presentation to your sister-queen.”
    Kate and Jordan led Laura forward toward the chocolate-skinned woman. Her name was Omi. The vows were nearly the same. She promised to protect and care for Laura, whose palm was swiftly cut then resealed with a few swipes of Omi’s tongue. A ruby necklace was placed around her neck and Laura was kissed. Then she took her seat with Kate and Jordan behind Omi.
    The queen went over the line again. On either side of me, one by one, a new girl was brought forward and presented to a different sister-queen. Natasha. Omi. Kina. Faeth. Tokyo. All exotically beautiful, all terrifying.
    Then, Danni and Paige brought Amy forward to the queen. The most important sister-queen, the hazel-eyed leader of this insane ceremony. The queen made her pledge to Amy, then closed her wound. I watched Amy for a moment while she twirled the teardrop ruby between her fingers. When Benny went forward with Cleo and Barb, I realized I was the only one left. I was the thirteenth girl.
    As Benny crossed the marble floor, I finally got a good look at her. She was heavy like Danni, but she didn’t carry her weight as well. Her long dark brown hair was frizzy and she had acne all over her back and shoulders. I hated myself for thinking it. I didn’t want to believe the queen found Benny more attractive than me.
    And even more, I was filled with this irrational stab of jealously.
    Danni and Cleo had brought Benny and Amy for the queen, and I was left out. The other girls were involved in their own sister-queens, exchanging small kisses and petting strokes. They didn’t notice just how uncomfortable I was standing in the middle of the
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    reBekah WeatherspOOn
    room alone. I felt like crying. And then I felt crazy. I actually wanted this—vampire to pick me. At least over Benny.
    “It looks like you and Cleo have brought me one extra,” the queen said to Danni as she looked me over. I watched her hands as she gently stroked Amy’s leg. That pissed me off even more.
    “She didn’t want any part of this, but we thought maybe you’d like to meet her. Ginger Elizabeth Carmichael, meet Camila, our kind and loving and most gracious Queen,” Danni replied. I couldn’t tell whether she was messing with me or Camila.
    “You are too sweet, Danni. I want you to take Amy and Benny.”
    I took a step back as all the women stood at once. Danni handed Camila another slim black box. “I would like to have a word with Ginger alone.”
    Everyone ignored me as they filed out of the room. Amy didn’t even glance back to see if I was okay. She was so wrapped up in Danni. She and I were going to have a long talk.
    When it was just the two of us, Camila held out her hand for me. “Come.”
    I stepped forward and took